Adria Matrix Plus 670 SC - Practical Motorhome

An impressive mid-range low-profile coachbuilt with an L-shaped front lounge and a rear island bed, check out the new-for-2016 Adria Matrix Plus 670 SC

Verdict

Adria knows how to build a quality motorhome and has a deserved reputation for sharp design and bombproof build. The Matrix Plus 670 SC will appeal to touring couples looking for the sophistication and practicality of an island bed, and a well proportioned washroom. Up front, the comfortable lounge and flexibility afforded by three extra berths will appeal to sociable buyers, although careful kitchen management will be required to feed larger parties.

With a payload not far south of 500kg, and plenty of places to hide your touring essentials and extra kit, the 670 SC could also find fans among active-minded motorcaravanners. The only slight downside to this ’van is its pronounced rear overhang, which may give some users cause for concern on ferry crossings, and an overall length which, at 7.48m long, won’t fit on every front drive. And to see other Adria motorhomes for sale, click here.

Pros

Sharp looks inside and out, with a contemporary interior and a pleasing ambience
It has a sociable and well-illuminated lounge
There’s the comfort and refinement of an island bed, plus three extra berths available on demand
It offers a good range of storage options and a respectable payload

Cons

The habitation door is on the UK offside, so passengers will be disgorged into the road if parking on the British nearside
It has a large rear overhang, so you’ll need to take care on ferry ramps
There are more affordable UK-built ’vans available in this segment, if not buying Continental isn’t a deal-breaker

In 2015, the Slovenian marque celebrated 50 years in the leisure vehicle industry – it started out as a caravan manufacturer in 1965. Since then, a consistently strong performance in export markets has helped Adria become the biggest single-branded motorhome maker in Europe.

Key to its success overseas is a sharp focus on the needs of individual markets, and the robustness of construction methods that have to work in very demanding conditions – Adria motorhomes are very popular in Scandinavia, for example, where being able to function well at low temperatures is a must.

Special silver-skinned ‘50’ editions of selected best-selling van conversion and coachbuilt models were the key plank of Adria’s half-century celebrations going into the 2016 model year, but behind the razzmatazz, the brand quietly slipped another couple of low-profile models onto UK forecourts for the new season.

Matrix Plus bridges the gap between the entry-level Axess and top-level Supreme trims in Adria’s line-up of larger low-profiles. Like Axess, the Plus models ride on the Fiat Ducato (the Supreme models, like the Adria Matrix Supreme 687 SBC, are based on the impressive Renault Master).

Price-wise, Matrix Axess ranges between £47,090-£54,090 OTR, while all three Supreme models cost £58,090 OTR. The two Plus models are priced at £56,090 OTR. To take a step up from the Axess ’vans, the Plus models get a window, an inner door bin and central locking in the habitation door, rear parking sensors, a height-adjustable, pivotable, freestanding dinette table on a floor-mounted base, full-framed habitation windows, rather than rubber-lined ones, handy LED lights in rear garage, ‘running boards’ under the cab doors, LED daytime running lights, a panoramic cab skylight, a ‘media wall’ (please see below for more details), an extractor fan in the kitchen, plus a sink cover/infill. The top level Supreme range brings desirable items like Alde heating and adjustable beds to the party.

Adria has been an omnipresence in the UK for five decades, staying in the game while currency exchange rates may not have been particularly favourable, as is currently the case as a weak Euro and strong Pound are making European imports more affordable.

Add to that the inclusion of the special 50 Year Anniversary Pack of extras and selected upgrades, which would normally cost £2000, and the Matrix Plus models will make a lot of sense for shoppers who like to buy Continental, but want a level of value for money to really push the prestigious German import brands hard.

With its walk-around bed frame, a pair of illuminated wardrobes and upmarket feel, the rear bedroom is the USP of this ’van

Living

Entering through the offside habitation door, the front lounge is built on a double floor so there’s a slight step up into it. Seating follows the familiar Continental configuration, with a transverse lounge seat, a ‘false’ nearside seat that removes in transit to give the third and fourth passengers some leg room, and an offside sofa. Rotate the cab seats and six people can gather around the substantial lounge table, which offers lateral movement via a catch on its underside.

Our test ’van sported ‘Horizon’ trim – a darker, richer ‘Forest’ wood tone is also available. Seat fabrics were finished in the ‘White Santos’ cream and chocolate scheme – other options are available. The interior vibe is pleasing, with plenty of natural light able to enter via a combination of two side windows, a large over-lounge rooflight and a cab rooflight, plus from the cab.

Overlocker ambient lighting is deployed throughout, plus a selection of LED downlighters, and two touch-sensitive LEDs on the B-pillar behind the driver and passenger.

Kitchen

With their familiar V-shape, Continental galleys are certainly ergonomic, but the lack of extensive work surface favours tidy cooks who are happy to clean up as they go along. Food preparation can easily be accommodated thanks to the flat surfaces afforded by the cooker cover and sink infills; add some saucepans and plates to the mix, and things will get a little more cramped. Catering for two will, therefore, pose no problem; add some extra guests to the party and some efficient space management will be required.

Kitchen equipment in the Adria Matrix Plus 670 SC comprises three gas burners, under a nearside window and its smart illuminated splashback, a deep but narrow sink with a mixer tap, and a combination oven and grill. Opposite stands a 150-litre fridge with a separate freezer compartment. An extractor fan is built in to the underside of the kitchen’s overhead lockers.

Washroom

To save on body length, which stands at just under 7.5m, Adria has opted for a washroom split across the vehicle. The shower compartment is sited on the nearside, and uses a folding door and circular door combination to keep spray at bay. The 670 SC’s large 140-litre water tank should permit some decent length showering, for those who prefer on-board facilities to those on site.

Opposite, on the offside, a sink, a vanity unit, a cupboard and a swivelling toilet ensemble form the rest of the washroom specification. A sliding tambour door is on call for privacy.

The washroom area is large enough for dressing; further privacy can be facilitated by closing the sliding door between the kitchen and bedroom.

Beds

Two double beds are available in the Matrix Plus 670 SC – a spacious island bed at the rear, above a rear garage, and an electrically operated drop-down bed above the lounge. Another single bed can be made up in the lounge, by lowering the table and rearranging the seat cushions, and measures 2.1 x 1.3/0.6m.

With its walk-around bed frame, a pair of illuminated wardrobes and upmarket feel, the rear bedroom is the USP of this particular model (sister ’van 670 SL offers rear twin single beds). The bed measures 1.95 x 1.46m and has a light but comfortable mattress.

Up front, the lounge bed measures 1.9 x 1.3/1.1m. It is lowered and raised by means of a rocker switch (no key required), and is quiet and brisk in operation. A ladder, which stows in the rear garage, is used for entry and exit. For more adventurous types, it’s possible to spring up into the bed by means of the cab seating. The bed’s load limit is set at 200kg.

Storage

With a rear garage (load limit: 150kg) accessible from both sides, plus drawers under the foot of the island bed, the Adria Matrix 670 SC is no slouch in the storage department. There are many other options, too, including a pair of wardrobes flanking the bed’s headboard, three overhead lockers in the lounge, two in the kitchen – where you’ll also find three soft-closing drawers, under the sink – and a selection of cubbies spread around the vehicle.

Underfloor storage features, too, with a floor-mounted compartment next to the kitchen for keeping valuables out of sight. Another floor-mounted space, next to the bed on the nearside, loses a little space to plumbing equipment.